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Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Jonathan too refined to sponsor Niger Delta Avengers-Kinsmen

Ogbia Brotherhood, the apex umbrella body of the kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, dismissed as “unfounded” and “mischievous,” the allegation levelled against him by some militant groups in the Niger Delta region over purported sponsorship of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA. Dr. Jonathan’s kinsmen described him as a man too refined to sponsor violence against the nation.

During a media interactive session in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, its National Chairman, Chief Benson Agadaga said

“It is unthinkable that the former President, by any stretch of the imagination, could be linked with sponsoring or even establishing an armed outfit like the Niger Delta Avengers to antagonise the Federal Government, where he has just served as President with the goodwill of Nigerians. “May I add in unequivocal terms, that the allegation lacks substance and does not bear true reflection or semblance of the nature, original beliefs and intent of this prominent son of Ogbia. “The Ogbia people, for instance, are not historically known for fanning the embers of war or reckless shedding of blood for any reason. Dr. Jonathan appears to have inherited his political disposition from our political father, Chief Melford Okilo, of blessed memory.”

Chief Agadaga, a former state Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa State, noted that the allegation was meant to rubbish the political status of the former President, Dr. Jonathan.

“The status of Dr. Jonathan cannot be cancelled with the hypocritical excuse of non-performance and failing to develop the Niger Delta region. The Niger Delta cannot benefit anything by eliminating or frustrating Dr. Jonathan, our only national and international voice. “Dr. Jonathan’s commitment to the sanctity of life is further demonstrated by the fact that through his tenure as Bayelsa Governor and President of the country, there were no reported cases of extra-judicial killings and high profile assassinations,” he said.